dear enemy-第31章

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as　standing　over　me　in　amazed　consternation。

This　morning　at　eleven　he　came　back；　looked　me　coldly　in　the　eye　without　so　much　as　the　flicker　of　an　eyelash；　and　told　me　that　Thomas　was　to　have　hot　milk　every　two　hours　and　that　the　spots　in　Maggie　Peters's　throat　must　be　watched。

Here　we　are　back　on　our　old　standing；　and　positively　I　don't　know　but　what　I　dreamed　that　one　minute　in　the　night！

But　it　would　be　a　piquant　situation；　wouldn't　it；　if　Sandy　and　I　should　discover　that　we　were　falling　in　love　with　each　other；　he　with　a　perfectly　good　wife　in　the　insane　asylum　and　I　with　an　outraged　fiance　in　Washington？　　I　don't　know　but　what　the　wisest　thing　for　me　to　do　is　to　resign　at　once　and　take　myself　home；　where　I　can　placidly　settle　down　to　a　few　months　of　embroidering　〃S　McB〃　on　table…cloths；　like　any　other　respectable　engaged　girl。

I　repeat　very　firmly　that　this　letter　isn't　for　Jervis's　consumption。　　Tear　it　into　little　pieces　and　scatter　them　in　the　Caribbean。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　S。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　January　3。　Dear　Gordon：

You　are　right　to　be　annoyed。　　I　know　I'm　not　a　satisfactory　love　letter　writer。　　I　have　only　to　glance　at　the　published　correspondence　of　Elizabeth　Barrett　and　Robert　Browning　to　realize　that　the　warmth　of　my　style　is　not　up　to　standard。　　But　you　know　alreadyyou　have　known　a　long　timethat　I　am　not　a　very　emotional　person。　　I　suppose　I　might　write　a　lot　of　such　things　as：　　〃Every　waking　moment　you　are　in　my　thoughts。〃　　〃My　dear　boy；　I　only　live　when　you　are　near。〃　　But　it　wouldn't　be　absolutely　true。　　You　don't　fill　all　my　thoughts；　107　orphans　do　that。　　And　I　really　am　quite　comfortably　alive　whether　you　are　here　or　not。　　I　have　to　be　natural。　　You　surely　don't　want　me　to　pretend　more　desolation　than　I　feel。　　But　I　do　love　to　see　you；　you　know　that　perfectly；and　I　am　disappointed　when　you　can't　come。　　I　fully　appreciate　all　your　charming　qualities；　but；　my　dear　boy；　I　CAN'T　be　sentimental　on　paper。　　I　am　always　thinking　about　the　hotel　chambermaid　who　reads　the　letters　you　casually　leave　on　your　bureau。　　You　needn't　expostulate　that　you　carry　them　next　your　heart；　for　I　know　perfectly　well　that　you　don't。

Forgive　me　for　that　last　letter　if　it　hurt　your　feelings。　　Since　I　came　to　this　asylum　I　am　extremely　touchy　on　the　subject　of　drink。　　You　would　be；　too；　if　you　had　seen　what　I　have　seen。　　Several　of　my　chicks　are　the　sad　result　of　alcoholic　parents；　and　they　are　never　going　to　have　a　fair　chance　all　their　lives。　　You　can't　look　about　a　place　like　this　without　〃aye　keeping　up　a　terrible　thinking。〃

You　are　right；　I　am　afraid；　about　its　being　a　woman's　trick　to　make　a　great　show　of　forgiving　a　man；　and　then　never　letting　him　hear　the　end　of　it。　　Well；　Gordon；　I　positively　don't　know　what　the　word　〃forgiving〃　means。　　It　can't　include　〃forgetting；〃　for　that　is　a　physiological　process；　and　does　not　result　from　an　act　of　the　will。　　We　all　have　a　collection　of　memories　that　we　would　happily　lose；　but　somehow　those　are　just　the　ones　that　insist　upon　sticking。　　If　〃forgiving〃　means　promising　never　to　speak　of　a　thing　again；　I　can　doubtless　manage　that。　　But　it　isn't　always　the　wisest　way　to　shut　an　unpleasant　memory　inside　you。　　It　grows　and　grows；　and　runs　all　through　you　like　a　poison。

Oh　dear！　　I　really　didn't　mean　to　be　saying　all　this。　　I　try　to　be　the　cheerful；　carefree　（and　somewhat　light…headed）　Sallie　you　like　best；　but　I've　come　in　touch　with　a　great　deal　of　REALNESS　during　this　last　year；　and　I'm　afraid　I've　grown　into　a　very　different　person　from　the　girl　you　fell　in　love　with。　　I'm　no　longer　a　gay　young　thing　playing　with　life。　　I　know　it　pretty　thoroughly　now；　and　that　means　that　I　can't　be　always　laughing。

I　know　this　is　another　beastly　uncheerful　letter；as　bad　as　the　last；　and　maybe　worse；but　if　you　knew　what　we've　just　been　through！　　A　boysixteenof　unspeakable　heredity　has　nearly　poisoned　himself　with　a　disgusting　mixture　of　alcohol　and　witch　hazel。　　We　have　been　working　three　days　over　him；　and　are　just　sure　now　that　he　is　going　to　recuperate　sufficiently　to　do　it　again！　　〃It's　a　gude　warld；　but　they're　ill　that's　in　't。〃

Please　excuse　that　Scotchit　slipped　out。　　Please　excuse　everything。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　SALLIE。


　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　January　11。　Dear　Judy：

I　hope　my　two　cablegrams　didn't　give　you　too　terrible　a　shock。　　I　would　have　waited　to　let　the　first　news　come　by　letter；　with　a　chance　for　details；　but　I　was　so　afraid　you　might　hear　it　in　some　indirect　way。　　The　whole　thing　is　dreadful　enough；　but　no　lives　were　lost；　and　only　one　serious　accident。　　We　can't　help　shuddering　at　the　thought　of　how　much　worse　it　might　have　been；　with　over　a　hundred　sleeping　children　in　this　firetrap　of　a　building。　　That　new　fire　escape　was　absolutely　useless。　　The　wind　was　blowing　toward　it；　and　the　flames　simply　enveloped　it。　We　saved　them　all　by　the　center　stairsbut　I'll　begin　at　the　beginning；　and　tell　the　whole　story。

It　had　rained　all　day　Friday；　thanks　to　a　merciful　Providence；　and　the　roofs　were　thoroughly　soaked。　　Toward　night　it　began　to　freeze；　and　the　rain　turned　to　sleet。　　By　ten　o'clock；　when　I　went　to　bed　the　wind　was　blowing　a　terrible　gale　from　the　northwest；　and　everything　loose　about　the　building　was　banging　and　rattling。　　About　two　o'clock　I　suddenly　started　wide　awake；　with　a　bright　light　in　my　eyes。　　I　jumped　out　of　bed　and　ran　to　the　window。　　The　carriage　house　was　a　mass　of　flames；　and　a　shower　of　sparks　was　sweeping　over　our　eastern　wing。　　I　ran　to　the　bathroom　and　leaned　out　of　the　window。　　I　could　see　that　the　roof　over　the　nursery　was　already　blazing　in　half　a　dozen　places。

Well；　my　dear；　my　heart　just　simply　didn't　beat　for　as　much　as　a　minute。　　I　thought　of　those　seventeen　babies　up　under　that　roof；　and　I　couldn't　swallow。　　I　finally　managed　to　get　my　shaking　knees　to　work　again；　and　I　dashed　back　to　the　hall；　grabbing　my　automobile　coat　as　I　ran。

I　drummed　on　Betsy's　and　Miss　Matthews'　and　Miss　Snaith's　doors；　just　as　Mr。　Witherspoon；　who　had　also　been　wakened　by　the　light；　came　tumbling　upstairs　three　steps　at　a　time；　struggling　into　an　overcoat　as　he　ran。

〃Get　all　the　children　down　to　the　dining　room；　babies　first；〃　I　gasped。　　〃I'll　turn　in　the　alarm。〃

He　dashed　on　up　to　the　third　floor　while　I　ran　to　the　telephoneand　oh；　I　thought　I'd　never　get　Central！　　She　was　sound　asleep。

〃The　John　Grier　Home　is　burning！　　Turn　in　the　fire　alarm　and　rouse　the　village。　　Give　me　505；〃　I　said。

In　one　second　I　had　the　doctor。　　Maybe　I　wasn't　glad　to　hear　his　cool；　unexcited　voice！

〃We're　on　fire！〃　I　cried。　　〃Come　quick；　and　bring　all　the　men　you　can！〃

〃I'll　be　there　in　fifteen　minutes。　　Fill　the　bathtubs　with　water　and　put　in　blankets。〃　　And　he　hung　up。

I　dashed　back　to　the　hall。　　Betsy　was　ringing　our　fire　bell；　and　Percy　had　already　routed　out　his　Indian　tribes　in　dormitories　B　and　C。

Our　first　thought　was　not　to　stop　the　fire；　but　to　get　the　children　to　a　place　of　safety。　　We　began　in　G；　and　went　from　crib　to　crib；　snatching　a　baby　and　a　blanket；　and　rushing　them　to　the　door；　and　handing　them　out　to　the　Indians；　who　lugged　them　downstairs。　　Both　G　and　F　were　full　of　smoke；　and　the　children　so　dead　asleep　that　we　couldn't　rouse　them　to　a　walking　state。

Many　times　during　the　next　hour　did　I　thank　Providenceand　Percy　Witherspoonfor　those　vociferous　fire　drills　we　have　suffered　weekly。　　The　twenty…four　oldest　boys；　under　his　direction；　never　lost　their　heads　for　a　second。　　They　divided　into　four　tribes；　and　sprang　to　their　posts　like　little　soldiers。

Two　tribes　helped　in　the　work　of　clearing　the　dormitories　and　keeping　the　terrified　children　in　order。　　One　tribe　worked　the　hose　from　the　cupola　tank　until　the　firemen　came；　and　the　rest　devoted　themselves　to　salvage。　　They　spread　sheets　on　the　floor；　dumped　the　contents　of　lockers　and　bureau　drawers　into　them；　and　bundled　them　down　the　stairs。　　All　of　the　extra　clothes　were　saved　except　those　the　children　had　actually　been　wearing　the　day　before；　and　most　of　the　staff's　things。　　But　clothes；　bedding　everything　belonging　to　G　and　F　went。　　The　rooms　were　too　full　of　smoke　to　make　it　safe　to　enter　after　we　had　got　out　the　last　child。

By　the　time　the　doctor　arrived　with　Luellen　and　two　neighbors　he　had　picked　up；　we　were　marching　the　last　dormitory　down　to　the　kitchen；　the　most　remote　corner　from　the　fire。　　The　poor　chicks　were　mainly　barefooted　and　wrapped　in　blankets。　　We　told　them　to　bring　their　clothes　when　we　wakened　them；　but　in　their　fright　they　thought　only　of　getting　out。

By　this　time　the　halls　were　so　full　of　smoke　we　could　scarcely　breathe。　　It　looked　as　though　the　whole　building　would　go；　though　the　wind　was　blowing　away　from　my　west　wing。

Another　automobile　full　of　retainers　from　Knowltop　came　up　almost　immediately；　and　they　all　fell　to　fighting　the　fire。　　The　regular　fire　department　didn't　come　for　ten　minutes　after　that。　　You　see；　they　have　only　horses；　and　we　are　three　miles　out；　and　the　roads　pretty　bad。　　It　was　a　dreadful　night；　cold　and　sleety；　and　such　a　wind　blowing　that　you　could　scarcely　stand　up。　　The　men　climbed　out　on　the　roof；　and　worked　in　their　stocking　feet　to　keep　from　slipping　off。　　They　beat　out　the　sparks　with　wet　blankets；　and　chopped；　and　squirted　that　tankful　of　water；　and　behaved　like　heroes。

The　doctor　meanwhile　took　charge　of　the　children。　　Our　first　thought　was　to　get　them　away　to　a　place　of　safety；　for　if　the　whole　building　should　go；　we　couldn't　march　them　out　of　doors　into　that　awful　wind；　with　only　their　night　clothes　and　blankets　for　protection。　　By　this　time　several　more　automobiles　full　of　men　had　come；　and　we　requisitioned　the　cars。

Knowltop　had　providentially　been　opened　for　the　week　end　in　order　to　entertain　a　house　party　in　honor　of　the　old　gentleman's　sixty…seventh　birthday。　　He　was　one　of　the　first　to　arrive；　and　he　put　his　entire　place　at　our　disposal。　　It　was　the　nearest　refuge；　and　we　accepted　it　instantaneously。　　We　bundled　our　twenty　littlest　tots　into　cars；　and　ran　them　down　to　the　house。　　The　guests；　who　were　excitedly　dressing　in　order　to　come　to　the　fire；　received　the　chicks　and　tucked　them　away　into　their　own　beds。　　This　pretty　well　filled　up　all　the　available　house　room；　but　Mr。　Reimer　（Mr。　Knowltop's　family　name）　has　just　built　a　big　new　stucco　barn；　with　a　garage　hitched　to　it；　all　nicely　heated；　and　ready　for　us。

After　the　babies　were　disposed　of　in　the　house；　those　helpful　guests　got　to　work　and　fixed　the　barn　to　receive　the　next　older　kiddies。　　They　covered　the　floor　with　hay；　and　spread　blankets　and　carriage　robes　over　it；　and　bedded　down　thirty　of　the　children　in　rows　like　little　calves。　　Miss　Matthews　and　a　nurse　went　with　them；　administered　hot　milk　all　around；　and　within　half　an　hour　the　tots　were　sleeping　as　peacefully　as　in　their　little　cribs。

But　meanwhile　we　at　the　house　were　having　sensations。　　The　doctor's　first　question　upon　arrival　had　been：

〃You've　counted　the　children？　　You　know　they're　all　here？〃

〃We've　made　certain　that　every　dormitory　was　empty　before　we　left　it；〃　I　replied。

You　see；　they　couldn't　be　counted　in　that　confusion。　　Twenty　or　so